Bag opening mechanism



Jan. 25, 1938. G. LONG BAG OPENING MECHANISM Filed Sept. a, 1936 4 sheets-sheet 1 George lo z g gum;

Jan. 25, 1938.

Filed Sept. 8, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 25,- 1938. a. LONG BAG OPENING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. s, 1936 Geore Z0 g-ww Pstented Jsm25,1938 a 2,106,463 I UNITED STATES. PATENT" OFFICE BAG OPENING MECHANISM George Long, Joliet, I ll., assignor, by meme assignments, to Franklh'r Steel Works, Juliet, Ill., a corporation of Maine Application September s', 1936, Serial No. 99,776

- 18 Claims. I (Cl. 93- ay The invention relates to bag handling mechastantially along line 4-4 of Figure 1 and shownism and has particular reference to an im- I ing the mechanism for actuating the fingers of proved bag feeding magazine having associated the bag opening means; therewithnovel bag opening means for succes- Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken sively removing a collapsed bag from the magaimmediately abovethe support for the bag open- 5 zinc and opening the same, whereby the open bag ing fingers;

may be delivered to other mechanism having op- Figure 6 is an elevational view showing a coleration to fill the bag. lapsed bag and the position which the fingers as- Automatic machines for filling and closing cofsume when inserted within the same; i 10 fee bags generally include a magazine and'means Figure 'l is an elevational view showing the bag 10 for opening the collapsed bags supported by the of Figure 6 after the fingers have been rotated magazine. The improvements of the invention. to open said bag; andhave been particularly adapted for use in con- Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the open nection with the bag filling and closing mechabag of Figure 7. n

l5 nism shown in the application of George Long Referring to-the drawings, particularly Figure and Elwell B. Larsen, Serial No. 87,972, filed 1, the supporting structure for supporting the ap- June 29, 1936, although of course the utility of paratus of the invention consists of a plurality the invention is not 1imited to this or any special of uprights Ill, H and I2 which rest on any suittype of machine but on the other hand will find able foundation such as l3. The central upright extensive application in many arts. ll extends considerably'above the base structure 20 The primary object of the invention is to proof the machine as shown in Figure 4 and by vide novel bag opening fingers and actuating means of horizontal brackets l4 supports the means therefor which will produce vertical moveframe ii of the bag opening mechanism to be ment of the fingers for insertion within a colmore particularly described. A platform l6 exlapsed bag and simultaneous horizontal movetends under the frame to support the bags during 25 ment and rotation to withdraw the bag from the opening thereof by the bag opening means, the magazine and open the same. a same having integrally fixed thereto the huh I! Another object of the invention is to provide which is vertically movable on the upright ll.

bag opening fingers and means for actuating the The links l8 pivotally connect the hub l1 and same in a novel and improved manner which will the movable blocks 20 supported on the founda- 30 impart bodily movement to the fingers in spaced tion plate 2| and have threaded connection with horizontal and spaced vertical planes. the shaft 22 which can be rotated by the opera- Another object of the invention is to provide tor to thereby elevate or lower the platform and v bag opening means having improved operation thus position the same at the desired heightfor for opening a collapsed bag, whicln will be of the particular bags operated on by'the machine.

simple construction and economical to manufac- The bag feeding mechanism indicated in its enture. tirety by numeral 23 is suitably supported on With these and other objects in view the inplate 24 to which is fixed the depending shaft 25. vention may consist of certain novel features of Said shaft provides a rack having meshing en-- construction and operation, as will be more fully gagement with the pinion 26 journalled in bear 1 described and particularly pointed out in the ing 21 suitably supported from upright l2. Rotaspecification, drawings and claims appended tion of the pinion is effected by handle 28 and hereto. v thus the operator can elevate or lower the bag In the drawings which illustrate an embodifeeding mechanism to conform to the position of ment of the invention and wherein like reference the platform l6. I

characters are used to designate like parts- The'bag feeding mechanism shown in detail in Figure 1 is an elevational view showing in as- Figures 2 and 3 comprises a pair of spaced side sociated relation the improved bag feeding maga-' plates 30 which provide the arcuate base memzine and bag opening means of the invention; ber 3| of the mechanism. Each side plate has Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of suitably secured thereto the'upstanding brackets l l the magazine for supporting and feeding col- 32 which act as supports for the side frames 33,

lapsed bags; the said supports retaining the-frames in spaced Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the bag relation and in supported position on base 3|. magazine shown'in Figure 2; As will be clear from Figure 2 the base 3| does not Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken subextend the full length of the frames 33, the said opening or gap in the base being completed by an endless belt 34 passing over roller35, journalled in the side plates and located at the forward end of the mechanism and also passing over a large driving roller 36 likewise journalled in the side plates 30 and located in substantial vertical alignment with the terminal end of the armate base 8|. The collapsed paper bags indicated by numeral 3'! are thus'supported by base 3| and by the revolving belt 34, said belt having movement to propelthe bags in a forward direction so that the forward bag can be readily removed by the bag opening means. A rolling block or other suitable weighted member 38 is located to the rear of the collapsed paper bags and fur-' ther propels the bags in a forward direction.

Said block may be providedwith a thrust plate 40 pivotally secured at 4| to the bar 42 and yieldingly biased in a counter-clockwise direction by'the coil spring 43. i

The collapsed .paper bags are retained at the forward end of the mechanism by a bottom clip 44, side clips,45 and a top clip 45 which engages the top of the longestside of the bag, as will be clear from Figure 3, thereby enabling the bag opening fingers to pass between the collapsed sides of the bags. The clip 45 forms a part of the frame 41 suitably supported in position over the top of the bags by the bar 48, having connection with block 49 which is fixed to the upright l2. The side guides 50, which engage and support the sides in the vicinity of the upper portion of the bags, are also supported by the frame 41.

The bag opening fingers 52, Figures 1 and 3, are eccentrically fixed to shafts 53 which are journalled by brackets 54 suitably secured to'the hori-" nate from a fiat'position, which they assume when they enter the bag, as shown in Figure 6, to a parallel position as shown in Figure 7. The mechanism for producing this rectangular motion of the bag opening fingers will now be described.

The actuating means essentially consists of three cams 56, 51 and 58,.Figures 4 and 5, fixed to the cam shaft 50 suitably journalled by the spaced bracket BI and which are integral with the frame I5. Said cams may be driven by a drive shaft 52 operatively'connecting with the cam shaft 60 by means of gears 53. The cam 56 is provided with a cam race 64 within which is located a cam follower 65 fixed to arm 66. Said arm is journalled in bracket 6| at 51 and as shown in Figure 5 the rear of said arm is provided with gear teeth 68. Said teeth mesh with a pinion l8 fixed to shaft 1| journalled and extending between the brackets 6|. Arms 12 are fixed to outer extending ends of said shaft and by means of links" the arms are operatively connected to slides 14, respectively, which are located on each side of the frame l5 and suitably mounted with respect to the frame so as to have horizontal reciprocating motion. Secured to each slide 14 is a channel member 15, the same being vertically disposed and extending an equal distance above and below the slide. The channel thereof receives the pin 16 secured by screw 11 to its respective slide 55, the said slide carrying on its completely surrounds the guide 8|) having opposed flat surfaces for engagement with thesides thereof which are connected by portions having angular surfaces fitting the grooves of said member. As best shown in Figure 1, link 8| is pivotally con-- nected to member 18 at 82, said link being pivoted at its upper end to lever- 83 journalled for rotation in the frame 6 by shaft 84. Link 85 connects the rearwardly extending portion of the lever to an arm 85 which is supported for pivotal movement by shaft II. The cam follower 81 rides within a cam race formed in'the cam5'l and is fixed to the arm 85 which thus imparts motion to the linkage described to effect vertical reciprocation of the member 18 which thus carries with it the slides 55 and the bag opening fingers, as will be clear from the following description.

Each slide 54 carries bracket 55 which journals shaft 53 carrying one of the fingers. Each shaft 53 extends a short distance above bearing 54 and has suitably secured thereto a link 88, Figure 5. The outer end of each link, as at 89, is pivotally secured to an arcuate link pivoted at 9| to the rigid arm 82 fixedly secured to and thus carried by the member 18. Whenthe channel members I5 are reciprocated, motion is imparted to the slides 55 which bodily moves its respective bag opening fin'ger from the full line position shown in Figure 5 to the dotted line position. However, the shaft thereof has operative connection through the links to a stationary member 92 and as a result of this relative movement rotation of each shaft 53 is effected, producing rotation of the bag opening fingers. When the parts are in full line position,

Figure 5, the bag opening fingers are disposed in spaced parallel relation and when the parts are in dotted line position, the fingers are disposed with their flat sides in substantial alignment. In this I latter position the fingers enter the bag and the member 18 is then forced downward into its lowermost position, causing the fingers to be inserted within and extend for the full length of the bag 93, see Figure 6. The slides 55 are then reciprocated in a direction rearwardly to effect removal of the bag from the feeding mechanism and as a result of this reciprocation the bag opening fingers will be rotated so that at the completion of said reciprocation the fingers will assume their spaced parallel position, Figure 7. This rotation of the fingers, which takes place on a vertical axis substantially coinciding with the outer edge of the respective finger, effects opening of the bag. The

fingers are eventually withdrawn from the open 1 bag by vertical upward movement of the member 18, whereupon the operations just described are repeated.

confine therebetween a coil spring 68 which engages at one end one arm of the bracket and at the other end a stop 96 fixed to the rod 95. The plunger is thus yieldingly caused to descend within the open bag and is yieldingly forced into contact with the bottom thereof, although being positively returned to initial raised position.

Cam 58 is operatively connected to member 01 through link I00, lever IOI, suitably journalled by shaft 04, link I02 and arm I 03, journalled by shaft II and carrying a cam follower riding within a cam race provided by cam 58. Downward movement of the plunger occurs immediately after the bag has been opened by the fingers 52 and the same yieldingly-holds the bottom of the bag'againsta base-member I04, Figure 2, until the fingers are withdrawn. Said base member is supported by and forms part of the platform I6. Associated therewith are a pair of stationary spring clips I05, and a pair of movable spring clips I06, the latter being carried by block I01 located below the base I04. Said block is mounted on pins I08 and thus reciprocates vertically, which motion-is imparted thereto by the toggle levers I09. Link IIO connects the toggle levers with lever III pivoted at .I I2 to block 49 fixedly secured to the upright I2. The upper end of lever III is connected by a relatively long link II3 to one of the arms I2 as will be clear from an inspection of Figure 1. Movement of this arm will rock lever Ill and break the toggle formed by the toggle levers I09 with the result that the spring clips I06 will be lowered subline position, whereupon the spring clips will be elevated to their highestposition. This action of the spring clips takes place in timed relation v with the removal and opening of the bag and the clips will be elevated so as to engage the bottom of an open bag as the plunger 04 forces said bottom of the bag into contact with the base member I04. The movable clips, together with the stationary clips, will retain the bag in position on the base until the plunger is withdrawn.

The endless belt 34, previously described as having movement to propel the bags in a forward direction so that the forward bag can be readily removed by the bag opening fingers, receives actuation from lever III through link III which is pivotally connected to the upper end of lever I I5 suitably fixed to shaft II6 supportingthe driving roller 36. The pawl II'I,'carried by lever 5.. is adapted to engage the ratchet H8 propelled forward of the mechanism, thus maintaining the'forward bag firmly against the clips 45 and 46. The bodily movement of the fingers 52 may be described as rectangular since they have'downward movement for inserting the fingers when in a fiat aligned position within the collapsed bag and are then given bodily movement in a horizontal and rearward direction to remove the bag from the mechanism and simultaneously open the bag since this bodily movement eiTects rotation of the fingers whereby at the end of said movement they assume a spaced parallel position. The movement of the plunger downwardly until the same engages the bottom of the open bag, which is accomplished by cam.

for the plunger so as to'fill the bags immediately upon opening of the same by the fingers. It will be evident from Figure 5 that the parts effecting rotation of the fingers have ample clearance with respect to the plunger which is axially located and positioned directly over the opened bag.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention'or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is: Y

-' 1. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger being substantially flat throughout its entire length, and means rotating said fingers from a position wherein the fingers are disposed edge to' edge with their corresponding faces in alignment to a position 'substantially degrees removed therefrom whereby the faces which werein alignment are disposed inapproximately parallel. planes,

2. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger being substantially fiat throughout its entire length, and means rotating said fingers, from a position tage in that a. filling spout may be-substituted g wherein the fingers are disposed edge to edge I with their, corresponding faces in alignment to a. position 90 degrees removed therefrom whereby the faces which were in alignment are disposed in approximately parallel planes, the pivot axis ofeach finger substantially coinciding with the'outside edge of the finger 3. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger beingsubstantially fiat throughout its length and having a width less" than one-half the width of the b'ag, and means rotating saidfingers from a position wherein the fingers are .disposed edge to edge with their corresponding faces in alignment to a position 90 degrees removed thereirom whereby the faces which were in aligninentare disposed in approximately parallel planes, the pivot axis] of each finger being vertical and substantially coinciding with the outside edge of the finger.'

4.-Bag opening means romprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger being substantially fiat throughout its length, means supporting said fingers for rotation on a vertical axis and for bodily movement, and means producing rotation of said fingers from a position wherein the fingers are disposed edge to edge with their corresponding faces in alignment to a position 90 degrees removed therefrom whereby the faces which were in alignment are disposed in approximately parallel planes.

\ tially fiat throughout its length, means supporting said fingers for rotation on a vertical axis and for-bodily movement, and means producing rotation of said fingers from a position wherein the fingers are disposed edge to edge with their corresponding faces in alignment to a ,position 90 degrees removed therefrom whereby the faces which were in alignment are disposed in approxi- 'mately parallel planes, the pivot axis of each finger substantially coinciding with the outside edge of the finger.

6. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger being substantially fiat-throughout its length, means support: ing said fingers for rotation on a vertical axis and for bodily movement, saidbodily movement comprising movement in a horizontal plane and movement in a vertical plane, and means producing rotation of said fingers as a result of their bodily movement in a horizontal plane.

7. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger being substantially fiat throughout its length, means supporting said fingers for rotation on a vertical axis and for bodily movement, said bodily movement including vertical reciprocating and horizontal translating movement, and means producing r0.- tation of said fingers as a result of their horizontal translating movement, the pivot axis of each finger substantially coinciding with the outside edge of the finger.

8. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger being substantially fiat throughout its length, means supporting said fingers for rotation on a vertical axis and for bodily movement, said bodily movement including motion in spaced vertical planes and in spaced horizontal planes, and means producing rotation of said fingers as a result of their motion in each of the spaced horizontal planes.

9. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger being substantially fiat throughout its length, means supporting said fingers for rotation on a vertical axis and for bodily movement, means producing rotation' of said fingers as a result 'of their bodily movement to cause said fingers to pivot from a position with their corresponding faces in alignment to a position substantially 90 degrees removed therefrom, whereby said fingers cause opening of a collapsed bag thereon, and a vertical reciprocating plunger having downward movement to enter the bag after opening thereof.

10. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger being substantially fiat throughout its length, means support-' ing said fingers for rotation on a vertical axis, means imparting bodily movement to said supporting means, including movement in a vertical plane and movement in spaced horizontal planes, and means producing rotation of said fingers as a result of said movement in the spaced horizontal planes.

11. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, each finger being substantially fiat' throughout its length, means supporting said fingers for rotation on a vertical axis, means imparting bodily movement to saidsupporting means whereby sa d fingers have downward movement in a vertical plane to insert said fingers within a collapsed bag, and movement 75 rearwardly in a horizontal plane, means producing rotation ofsaid fingers as a result of said rearwardmovement, whereby the fingers pivot from a position with their fiat surfaces in alignment to a position 90 degrees removedtherefrom, which pivotal movement causes opening of the collapsed bag thereon, and a vertical reciprocating plunger having downward movement to enter the bag after opening thereof.

12. Bag opening means comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, supporting means for said fingers including bars mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement and which rotatably support the fingers permitting rotation thereof on a vertical axis, a member mounted for vertical reciprocating movement, said member carrying said bars whereby the bag opening fingers have vertical movement inspaced planes and horizontal movement in spaced planes, and means producing rotation of said fingers as a result of their bodily .movement in the horizontal planes.

l3. Mechanism for opening collapsed bags including a pair of bag opening fingers, supporting means for said fingers including bars mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement and which rotatably support the fingers permitting rotation thereof on a vertical axis, a member mounted for vertical reciprocating movement, said member carrying said bars, means producing horizontal reciprocating movement of said bars, other means vertically reciprocating said member whereby said' bag opening fingers have vertical movement in spaced planes and horizontal movement in spaced planes, and means producing rotation of said fingers as a result of their bodily movement in the horizontal plane.

14. Mechanism for opening collapsed bags comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, supporting means for said fingers including bars mounted,

tation of said fingers as a result of, their bodily movement in the horizontal planes.

15. Mechanism for opening collapsed bags comprising a pair of bag opening fingers, supporting means for said fingers including bars mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement, a shaft projecting upwardlyfrom each of. said fingers and being rotatably mounted by one of said bars, whereby said fingers are rotatable on a vertical axis, a member carrying said bars and mounted for vertical reciprocating movement, means producing vertical reciprocation of said member, other means for-causing horizontal reciprocating movement of said bars in unison,

whereby said bag opening fingers have vertical movement in spaced planes and horizontal movement in spaced planes, and links pivotally connecting the shaft of each finger to said member.

and constructed and arranged to produce rotation of said fingers as a result of their bodily movement in a horizontal plane.

16. Mechanism for openirr "f collapsed bags comprising apair of bag opening fingers, supporting means for said fingers including bars mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement and which rotatably support the fingers permitting rotation thereof on a vertical axis, a member carrying said bars and mounted for vertical reciprocating movement, means vertically reciprocating said member and other means having actuation when said member is located at the extremities of its stroke to cause horizontal reciprocating movement of said bars, whereby the bag opening fingers have vertical movement in spaced planes and horizontal movement in spaced planes, and means operatively connecting the fingers with said member and constructed and arranged to produce rotation thereof as a result-of their bodily movement in the horizontal planes.

1'7. Mechanism for opening collapsed bags comprising a frame having a vertical guide member extending the length thereof, a member mounted for reciprocating movement-on said guide member, a pair of bars mounted on the respective sides' of said member and adapted to have horizontal reciprocating movement with respect.

thereto, means connecting said bars to cause horizontal reciprocating movement thereof while permitting vertical movement of their carrying member, means carried at the projecting end of each bar for journalling the shaft permitting rotation thereof on a vertical axis, and a bag opening finger fixed to the depending end of each shaft.

18. Mechanism for opening collapsed bags, comprising a frame having a vertical guide member extending the length thereof, a member mounted for reciprocating movement on said guide member; a pair of bars mounted on the respective sides of said member and adapted to have horizontal reciprocating movement with respect thereto; means connecting said bars to cause horizontal reciprocating movement thereof while permitting vertical movementof their carrying member, means carried at the project ing end of each bar for journalling the shaft permitting rotation thereof on a vertical axis, a bagopening finger fixed to the depending end of each shaft, links operatively connecting each shaft with said member, said links being constructed and arranged to produce rotation of the finger as a result of the horizontal reciprocating movement of its respective bar.

- GEORGE LONG. 

